The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-24
TEACHERS DEPARTMENT.
ARTHUR kIBLER, EDITOR.
THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM.


The newspapers of the State are
beginning to discuss very boldly the
Free School System, for its ineM-
cheney is now being seriously felt.
The necessity of its very existence, in
its present state, is about to be ques-
toned. It is by no one doubted that
its design is good, and that good
would result from it were the people
of the State. not the office holders,
to do their duty. This is no ''Colum-
bia Canal" or Lien Law" question
which might defeat an aspiring poll
tician. It is the approaching failure
of something for which the whole
people of the State are responsible.
No legislator is to lose his position,
nor is any politician to miss his pros
pective Office on account Of the inef-
fciency Of the School System.
We are not to discuss what the
system is but its effects. What have
been the effects, good or bad ? Bad.
]. It has shortened the school
term. Thirty or forty years ago,
when the State did not shower its
largesses SO bountifully upon her
citizens as now, the schools were
open as much as ten months of the
year. sometimes more. Then only a
small tax was levied which was to
pay for the poor children, now there
is a tax to pay for all, without dis
tinction. But what has been the
result? The school term has been
reduced from ten months to five or
less. It is to be doubted whether
onefourth of the schools of South
Carolina are kept open more than
five months in the year It would be
unreasonable, nay 7se, to say that
school session of four or five will do
efficient work.
2. The system has shown the in
gratitude and weakness or our people.
It has shown that if it is desired to
make beggar and pauper of a man,
help him when it is not seriously
needed. Helping a man without
need of it, creates a dislike for work,
destroys his energy, takes away his
self-reliance, and after while he be-
comes a beggar.
;. It makes the teachers inefficient.
! What thoroughly qualified teacher
will consent to teach five months in
the year at a salary of 20 or 20
dollars month? It is known fact,
however that great many teach and
the question is, are they or can they
be qualified?
''Take your watch to blacksmith,
or employ quack to perform surgi-
cal operation; but tolerate no quack-
cry in the teacher"
4. A short term and poor pay
destroys all ambition in the teacher.
To find real ambitious teacher now
is the exception. What is he to as
pire to? As soon as he gets his first
position, he is at the top of the ladder.
He can 60 no farther. Where he
commences there he must stay. The
consequence is that he is contented,
ia very faulty contentment) with
very small portion of this worlds
enviable praises.
). Another effect is that it has and
is now causing many teachers to
desire their schools to close as quickly
as possible They are beginning to
think that five months is long enough
to teach. Oh! miserable conclusion!
To say that they are working for the
small amount of pay they are to
receive would be mistake. They
are teaching because they have no
other way in which to spend the short
time allotted to them on earth.
1t Is time that the teachers of the
State should awake to the Importance
Of something which SO deeply con-
Germs them. That there is a remedy,
there is no doubt, but how are we to
! find or apply it? An association of
teachers is helpless. They may plan
and advise but that is about all they
can do. 1t is only the united efforts
Of the whole people that will bring
about the needed reforms. For the
State To e61lcato her children Is 'rioht
but it is reasonable that each citizen
should do his part by private sub
scription.
Mr.. J. S. Wheeler, teaching at
Mt. Pilgrim, + miles below Pros